HCLT Timeline of Activities

2025

2 December 2025 - Mayor Paul Bristow and ECDC Leader Anna Bailey visit site

25 September 9th AGM 

Annual Report delieverd by Tor Taylor. Finanace report delivered by Martha How. Retirement of Stuart Smith as Trustee. Election and re-election of Trustees. Resolved to disapply the requirement to appoint an auditor but continue with an annual independent accountants review.

2024

19 September 8th AGM 

Annual report delivered by Chair Tor Taylor. Financial Report by Martha How commented on successful year but ongoing rents do not cover mortgage and running costs, shortfall met by deposit account. Resolved to disapply the requirement to appoint an auditor but to continue with an independent accounts review.

2023

28 September 7th AGM

Annual report delivered by Angela Stratford. Reported on sucessful audits for 2021 and 2022, resolved not to appoint auditors for 2024. Reported on financial result for the year including commentry about interest rate rises and the need to keep reviewing rent in line with CPI. Trustees re-elected by rotation. 

2022

1 December- last 2 properties completed and let. Ovins Rise project completed.

20 September 6th AGM

Annual report delivered by Stephen Thompson, vote of thanks to Mark Hugo for all his work starting up the CLT and taking the Ovins Rise project to near completion. Accounts received and approved. Trustees re-elected by rotation.

2021

21 October - Time capsule buried at Ovins Rise by schoolchildren from the Robert Arkenstall Primary School.

16 September 2021 Mayor Dr Nik Johnson visits Ovins Rise and expresses his approval and support of the CLT work in Haddenham.

23 August 2021 5th AGM

Minutes of 4th AGM approved and accepted. Mark Hugo reported that 11 properties are now occupied under tennacy/ shared ownership. Vote of thanks given for the hard work and dedication shown by retiring trustees Pauline Wilson, Barry Parr and Nick Abbey the last 2 moving away from the area so can no longer act as trustees.

Financial position healthy and to budget. 31 March 2021 accounts approved and signed by Mark Hugo, Rachel Watts and Martha How.

3 press releases issued during the year were well covered by the local press, site vists from local MP Lucy Frazer well received.

8 more properties are due to be completed over the next year, tenants are in place for some of these but there is still opportunity for tenants interested in 2 bedroom homes. Several existing tenants expressed their gratitude for the work of the CLT in providing them with their new homes.

30 June 2021- Phase 1 complete- 11 properties under ownership- 2 shared ownership and 9 affordable rents

21 May 2021 Lucy Frazer MP visits Ovins Rise

22 January 2021 -Tenants welcomed into the first 2 one bedroom bungalows.

2020

15 September 2020 4th AGM

3rd AGM minutes approved. Victoria Taylor and Virginia Grace elected Trustees. Amanda James resigned as trustee during the year and Mark Hugo thanked her for her contribution.

Site report- delays due to COVID lockdown has delayed the whole development but work re-commenced in May. A delivery schedule for the first phase of homes has been agreed starting in Decemeber 2020. Mortgage terms (Triodos Bank) and sales and loan agreement terms (Palace Green Homes) have been agreed subject to a few final amendments and will be signed in the next few months.

Allocations report- the number of applications for the 19 HCLT properties exceed supply. 5 prospective tennants of the 1 bedroom bungalows have been invited to have their details validated and the selection process for the 2 2 bedroom shared properties has begun.

The site will be named Ovins Rise, this has been agreed by ECDC. Ovin was St Etheldreda's steward and it is believed he spent a lot of time in Haddenham/Aldreth.

Finances- HCLT has depended on grant money from Homes England and the Parish Council to fund activities to date. Accounts do not require an audit under the HCLT constitution but are formally finalised and filed with the FCA and HMRC. 

29 July 2020- Trustees visited site

Two one bed bungalows well advanced with roofing and floors complete and interiors progressing. A range of other properties in differing stages of build are well underway. Site drainage and pumping station complete.  

Mortgage application and negotiation process in progress.

18 May 2020- Work on site gradually recommenced.

25 March 2020- Work on site temporarily halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2019

11 June 2019- 3rd AGM

Trustees re-elected. Accounts approved. Update from Palace Green Homes as 14 May Trustee meeting.

2016-2018

31 October 2018- Report to Members

Extensive archaeological work ongoing on 1st century AD Romano British farmstead.2 public open days planned 6 and 9 November 2018 and the Robert Arkenstall Primary School visit on 9 November. Delay to build and review of existing applications due to archaeology. 

28 August 2018-Report to Members

Report to Members- work ongoing to satisfy conditions of planning approval, S106 approval, selecting contractors and archaeological survey. Initial archaeological survey found evidence of iron age homestead and ECDC requested further work. Site build therefore delayed. Trustees working on financial planning, processes and procedures for management.

8 May2018- 2nd AGM

2nd AGM- standard business accepting accounts, election of officers, update on West End Gardens (now named) development, build commencement date still not set.

7 February 2018-ECDC Planning Committee Meeting

ECDC Planning Committee granted planning permission for West End Development, planning committee very supportive, site to be named.

9 October 2017- Report to Members Planning Application Submitted

28 September 2017

Design finalised by Palace Green Homes, number of affordable homes increased from 16 to 19 (35% of the total of 54), consultation process to follow and Parish Council will be asked for input

8 May 2017- Public Meeting

-Public meeting- 88 attendees(43 Members,45 Non-Members),clear support for the HCLT concept to lead community driven development and provide affordable housing, feedback on enhancements to West End design positive, planning application will be submitted, Membership increasing to near 100.

20 April 2017- 1st AGM

-AGM- attended by 43 Members, update on West End re-design following feedback, concerns regarding access and other matters noted to be addressed.

7 December 2016- Public Meeting

-Consultation meeting- 150 attendees, good useful feedback received, 22 extra Members signed up.

14 July 2016- Notice to Members

-Notice to Members explaining – in the end only 2 sites were offered, West End site preferred site, Palace Green Homes to carry out initial design and submit planning pre-application to East Cambs District Council, no commitment to buy at this stage, 40 Members at this stage.

12 June 2016- Members Meeting

-HCLT meeting with 31 Members,4 plots of land discussed.

8 June2016- Statutory Registration

-Haddenham Community Land Trust registered with Financial Conduct Authority as a Community Benefit Society- Registration Number 7344

15 March 2016- Public Meeting

-First public meeting to discuss Haddenham Community Land Trust aims and objectives.